Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-11-03

I.snsasal la AsaA

! Rut now n new actor eaksta fgrwasa
M the political stage III central lilSnels,
~ rather, an old sayorite reappearea,
This was Ahe.ham Ieinsoln, Since his
return 10 Springfield from his sing IL
tarm of service in Congress. 1877 ia
lSAa, though by ~ aseaes entirely
withdrawn fram politics, his active
work had been greatly diminished
His congressional life had largely i'll.
creased tae hSrszou of his observation
Perhaps it had also extended the bounds
OF mis- ambition. He had doubtless dis
covered many Of his ows defects, aud
not unlikely had diligently sought 10
remedy them. The period following
aad for him been years of work. study
and reflection. His profession ai law
had become a deeper science and .
higher responsibility, His practice.
receiving his undivided attention,
brought him more important and more
remuueratsyo eases. Losing nothing
of his genial humor. his character took
On the dignity of a graver manhood.
He was still the center and the idol OF
every social group he encountered.
whether on the street or in the parlor.
Serene and buoyant of temper. eordia.
and winning of language. charitable
md tolerant of opinion, his very pres
nee ditfused n glow of confidence aud
kindness. Wherever he went no left
an overwhelming ripple of smiles. jests
and laughter. His radiant good-fellow,
ship was beloved and sought alike by
political opponents and partisan friends.
His sturdy and delicate integrity, re-
cognized far and wide, had long since
won him the blunt but hearty sobriquet
of Honest Old Abe. But it became
noticeable that of late years he was
less among the crowd and more in the
solitude of his office or his study. and
that he seemed ever in haste to leavs
the eager circle he was entertaining.
1t was in the midsummer of 1854 tina
we find him reappearing on the stump
in central Illinois. The rural popula-
ton always welcomed his oratory, made
up OF ready wit, apt illustration, SIM
pie statement, foreibie logic. His die
ton was familiar to the ear, his stories
were racy to the soil. He never lacked
for invitations to address the public.
His first speeches on the new and all.
absorbing topic were made in the
neighboring towns, and in the counties
adjoining his WI Toward the end o!
August the candidates for congress in
that district We're, in western phrase,
"on the track" Yates. afterwards one
of the famous ''war governors" sought
a reelection as a wing. Harris, as 8
Douglas-democrat, stroye to supplant
him. Local politics became active,
and Lincoln vas sent for in all direc.
:ions to address the people. When he
went, however, he distinctly announced
that he did not purpose to take up his
time with this personal and congress
sional controversy. His intention was
to discuss the principles of the Nebraska
bill.
Once launched upon this theme men
were surprised to find him imbued with
a new and unwonted seriousness. They
heard from his lips fewer anecdotes and
more history. Careless listeners who
came to laugh at his jokes sat spell
bound by the strong current of his
reasoning and the flashes OF his earnest
~eloGuenee, and were lifted up by the
range and tenor of his argument into q
fresher and purer political atmosphere.
--NIc0tdy and Hdy, In the Century.